The
Renaissance
Society

The Renaissance Society is pleased to present the exhibition Islamic Prayer Rugs Prayer rugs from Turkey, the Caucasus, Persia, and Turkestan will display a wide variety of compositions and techniques within the format of the prayer rug. Dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries, the exhibited rugs will provide the viewer with an idea of the creativity and technical skill possessed by the Islamic weavers. These craftsmen, whether members of a court shop in a large center or nomadic herdsmen, were part of a long tradition of making knotted carpets dating back hundreds of years.

Twenty-three prayer rugs will be on view, borrowed largely from Chicago collections. In addition, several examples will be lent by Boston and New York collections. The rugs were selected primarily for their fine quality and beauty of design.